Lighting fixture



OCt 30, 1956 J. w. STEINER ET AL 2,769,082

LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 50, 1953 Fig.l.

INVENTORS Joseph W. Seiner 'and Edward L.Be0ch.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY Oct. 30, 1956 J- W- sTElNER ET AL 2,769,082

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed March s, 1953 2 sheets-sheet 2 wlNEssEs;

' INVENTORS Joseph W. Steiner ongYEdward L.Beoch. @a mim ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent() LIGHTING FIXTURE Joseph W. Steiner, North Olmsted, andEdward L. Beach,

Fairview Park, hio, assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, EastPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 30,1953, Serial No. 345,525

Claims. (Cl. 240-41) This invention relates to lighting fixturesgenerally, and more particularly to fixtures having multi-partenclosures, the parts of which are capable of ready assembly anddisassembly to facilitate servicing of the fixture and lamp replacement.

Fixtures which have transparent closures and reflectors usually mountthe closure so that it can be removed in order to clean the fixture andclosure, and for lamp replacement purposes. However, in doing this theclosures have required a separate frame, and Where the fixture is to bemounted outdoors, at least two weatherproof gaskets 'are required. Inaddition, no provision has been made for adequate maintenance orreplacement of the reflector especially where it comprises part of thefixture enclosure, short of replacement of substantially the entirefixture or disassembly of fixed securing means.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a lightingfixture which has a novel frameless type of readily removabletransparent closure.

Another object of this invention is to'provide in a lighting fixture ofthe type having a reflector constituting a part of the fixture housing,a novel removable assembly of the reflector in the fixture, permittingready removal and replacement of the reflector.

A more general object of this invention is to provide a novel multi-partlighting fixture permitting ready assembly and disassembly of the partsof the fixture to facilitate maintenance and replace-ment of the partsand/or lamp.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel lighting fixtureincluding a lamp holder portion adapted to be mounted on a support, anda reflector readily detachably mounted on the lamp holder portion.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel lightingfixture including a lamp holder portion adapted to be mounted on asupport, a reflector readily detachably mounted on the lamp holderportion, and a frameless door readily detachably mounted on thereflector.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent uponconsideration of the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof, when taken in connection with the attached drawingsin which: l

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a lighting fixture constructed inaccordance with this invention, with parts of the fixture being brokenaway and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the lighting fixture shown in Fig.l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevational View of a part of the dooremployed in the lighting fixture shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view of the lighting fixture door takensubstantially on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

This invention contemplates a lighting fixture composed of a pluralityof separate parts, and one feature of the invention has to doparticularly with fixtures adapted for outdoor mounting, such asfloodlights, Where it is necessary that the fixture be sealed againstthe entrance of moisture or other deleterious elements which may bepresent in the atmosphere. In accordance with this feature of theinvention, the separable parts of the fixture are arranged to be readilysealed in a weather-tight manner, and in a manner to facilitateservicing the fixture, including cleaning and replacement of parts, asWell as facilitating initial installation of the fixture. One part ofthe invention has to do with the provision of a novel form oftransparent door in a manner such that it may readily be assembled anddisassembled to the fixture in sealed relation if desired, without theuse of a separate frame for the door.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention shown on the drawingscomprises a lighting fixture having a housing socket assembly Z, areflector assembly 4 and a door 6, which are all capable of beingreleasably assembled together in a manner to provide a sealedweather-tight en closure. The housing socket assembly comprises aVsocket housing casting 8 which is generally cup-shaped inform, having anopen end joined to the reflector 7 proper. The reflector 7 is formed ofa single piece of material capable of having a reflecting surface formedthereon, such for example as spun aluminum, and is generally flaredoutwardly in section and is joined to the socket housing 8 at the innerend of the reflector at one side. The door assembly 6 includes atransparenty concave or convex door member 96 formed of transparentmaterial, such as glass or the like.

The open end of the 4socket housing 8 is formed with a flange 10 whichis offset outwardly to provide a shoulder 12 between the flange and theside wall of the socket housing 8. The entire lighting fixture isadapted to be supported at the socket housing 8, for example as by alU-shaped supporting bracket 14 which receives the socket housing 8 andi-s adjustably secured thereto, as by pivot bolts 16 in'each side of thesocket housing 8. This permits relative pivotal movement of the lightingfixture with respect to the Supporting bracket 14. The bight portion ofthe supporting bracket 14 may have an angled mounting bracket 15 securedthereto, as by -a bolt 17, and the bracket is provided with a mountingaperture 19, by

means of which it may be suitably bolted to any desired' ing fixture inpredetermined angular relation with respectto the supporting bracket 14,with the latch 24 being secured to the mounting bracket 14, as by screws26, and adapted to engage through an opening in the mounting bracket 14into a notch (not shown) in the indicating disk 18. The particular modeof mounting the lighting fixture forms no part of this invention and itis more particularly described and claimed in the copending applicationof Edward L. Beach and Merle E. Keck, Serial No. 345,396, on LightingFixture, filed March 30, 1953, and assigned to the same assignee as thisinvention. Accordingly, for a more complete description of the mountingof the lighting fixture and the manner in which it may be adjusted tovarious angular positions, reference is hereby made to theabove-mentioned copending application.

The socket housing 8 is adapted to support interiorly thereof lampholding means, illustratively shown in this embodiment of the inventionas comprising a screw typeV Patented oct. 3o, 195e or a non-metallicwaterproof material, and the cable enters the socket housing 8 through aside opening 40 in the socket housing 2 having an inner shoulder 42. Inorder to seal the point of entrance of the cable into socket housing 8,there is provided a threaded bushing 44 adapted to receive the cable andbe threaded into the opening 48 in the socket housing 8, there beingcompressible packing material 45 interposed between the bushing 44 andthe shoulder 42 such, for example, as a packing material having a rubberor asbestos base, so that when the bushing is tightened the rziaterialwill be deformed into intimate engagement with the socket housing 8 andthe cable sheath 38 to seal the opening in the socket housing 8.

A light source 46 is shown as being supported by the lamp socket 28, andcomprises in the illustrative embodiment of the invention, anincandescent lamp. in this regard, however, it is desired to point outthat the invention is not limited to this type of light source or to theparticular type of lamp socket illustrated, as the invention is equallyapplicable to other types of lamps lamp supports. It will be noted thatthe lamp 46 extends into the reflector assembly 4, and particularly thatthe latter may be provided with a generally hemispherical inner endportion 48 into which the lamp extends from an opening at the inner endof the reflector assembly 4 but at one side thereof.

The reflector assembly 4 and socket housing 8 are secured together atthe opening through which the lamp extends into the reflector assembly4. For this purpose the reilector 7 has an opening corresponding to theopening in the housing 8, which is defined by an outwardly extendingflange 50 which terminates in an inwardly extending lip 52. The lip 52defines the opening 54 in the reflector which is adapted to align withthe opening in the housing 8 when the reflector and housing are securedtogether.

The securing means employed for the socket housing 8 and rellectorassembly 4 comprises a generally U- shaped leaf spring hinge member 56,having one end secured to the flange of the socket housing, as by screws58, and having the other end formed into a hook 60, for receiving apivot pin 62 supported on a bracket 64. The pivot pin supporting bracket64 is provided with spaced arms which are spanned by the pivot pin 62,and the bracket is secured to the rellector 7 by having its base securedto the outer surface of the reilector '7, for example as by rivets 66.The spring hinge member 66 is formed of any suitable resilient material,such for example as stainless steel.

At a point opposite the spring hinge relative to the juncture of thesocket housing 8 and the reflector assembly 4, there is provided anangled supporting bracket 68, one leg of which is secured to therellector 7 substantially at the innermost end thereof, as by rivets 80.The other leg of the angled bracket 68 projects outwardly for supportingan angled manually operable toggle member 82, as by a pivot pin 84. Thetoggle lever 82 is in turn pivotally connected at an intermediate point,as by a pivot pin 86, with one end of a leaf spring toggle clampinglever 88, the other end of which has a nose 90 for engagement with theoutside of shoulder 12 on the socket housing 8. If desired, the nose 90of the toggle clamping lever 88 may be covered with a suitable resilientshielding material, such as rubber or the like, to prevent damage to theouter surface of the socket housing at the point of engagementtherewith. It will be noted that a gasket 91 is preferably interposedbetween the shoulder 12 of the socket housing 8, and the lip 52 aroundthe opening in the rellector assembly 4, and the purpose of the hingespring 56 and spring clamping lever 88 is to maintain these parts of thesocket housing 8 and the reflector assembly 4 under spring pressureexerted on the gasket 91 interposed between them to p royide awaterproof `sealed joint. The gasket v91 may 4 be made of any desiredcompressible sealing material, such as a rubber or asbestos composition.

The reflector assembly 4 is shown assembled with the socket housing 8 insealed relation in Fig. 1 of the drawing, with both the hinge spring S6and spring clamping lever 88 being stressed to exert pressure on thesealing gasket 91 between these two parts. Referring particulary to thespring clamping lever 88, it will be noted that at the position of theparts shown in Fig. 1, the toggle levers 82 and 88 have their commonpivot pin 86 positioned to the right or' a center line connecting thesupporting pivot pin 84 for the lever 82, and the point of engagement ofthe lever 88 with the socket housing 8. This maintains the toggle leversat the position shown, with the manually operable lever 82 held againsta portion of the angled supporting bracket 68 as a stop therefor. Whenit is desired to release the clamping lever 88, it is merely necessaryto manually grasp the lever 82 and move it outwardly about its pivot pin84 to bring the common pivot point 86 of the two levers to the left ofthe center line connecting the pivot pin 84 and the point of engagementof lever 88 with the socket housing. This will release the stress in theclamping lever 88 and permit its disengagement from the socket housing,so that the entire reflector assembly 4 may then be pivotally movedabout the hinge pin 62 as a center. lf it is desired to entirely removethe reflector assembly 4 from the socket housing 8 after removal of lamp46, the former may simply be lifted to remove the hinge pin 62 trom thehook 60. This obviously permits ready removal of the reflector assembly4 for cleaning purposes or for replacement with a dillerent type ofrellector. Reassembly of a reflector assembly 4 with a socket housing 8is equally easy, in that it is merely necessary to lift the reflectorassembly 4 to position its pivot pin 62 in the hook 60 of the springhinge 56, and then rotate the rellector assembly toward the sockethousing 8 until the spring clamp lever 88 can be hooked over theshoulder 12 of the socket housing, whereupon the joint between them withthe gasket 91 interposed therebetween may again be placed under pressureto seal the joint, by rotating the manually Operable toggle lever 82downwardly in a counterclockwise direction to move to the right and movethe common toggle lever pivot 86 back across the center line joining thepivot pin 84 and the point of engagement of toggle lever 88 with thesocket housing, to the original position shown in Fig. 1.

The outer end of the reilector assembly 4 is formed to engage the door6, by having a recessed shoulder 92 formed integrally with the reflector7 and extending outwardly therefrom to terminate in a llange 94. Thedoor 6, as previously stated, is formed of a transparent material 96,such as glass or the like, and is especially adapted for assembly withthe reflector 7 without the use of any frame for the transparentmaterial. Thus, the door is provided with an integral peripheral flange98 adapted to engage a gasket 99 which is, in turn, adapted to seat inthe recess of the reflector shoulder 92, to seal the joint between thereflector 7 and door 6. The gasket 99 may be formed of any suitablecompressible material similar to the gasket 91 referred to above.

In order to secure the door 6 in pressure engagement with the gasket 99,there is provided a plurality of clamps substantially equally spacedabout the periphery of the door and illustratively disclosed herein asbeing three in number (Fig. 2). These door clamps are generally similarto the releasable spring clamps 82, 88 employed for securing thereflector assembly 4 to the socket housing 8. The specific form of clampillustrated here is adapted to be mounted by means of a bracket 100which is secured to the reflector 7, as by rivets 102, and has anoutwardly projecting arm for pivotally supporting a manually operabletoggle lever 104, as by a pivot pin 106. The manually operable togglelever 104 is pivoted at an intermediate point, as by a pivot pin 108, to,one

end of a leaf spring toggle clamp 110 which is bowed in form, and likethe spring toggle lever 88, is formed of any desired spring material,such as a stainless steel. The outer end of the spring toggle member 110is provided with a nose 112 for engaging the outer surface of doorflange 98 and it preferably is covered by a resilient gasket material113, such as rubber or the like.

The action of the spring clamps 104, 110 is substantially the same asthe action described above of the spring clamps 82, 88, and accordinglywill not be repeated in detail except to point out that when the clampsare in clamping position, as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings, thespring toggle levers 110 are stressed to thereby exert predeterminedpressure on the gasket 99 located between the joint of the door 96 andreflector 7. Moreover, at this time the common pivot pin 108 of thetoggle levers 104 and 110 lies inwardly of a center line connecting thepivot pin 106 for the toggle lever 104, and the point of engagement ofthe spring toggle lever with the cover, to thereby maintain the manuallyoperable toggle lever 104 inwardly in engagement with the supportingbracket 100. In order to prevent accident movement of the nose 112 ofthe spring toggle lever 110 in a direction outwardly of the door todisengage the same, and to insure proper positioning thereof, the dooris preferably provided with an integral rib 114 on the outer sidethereof along the periphery of the door flange 98, and with inwardlyextending integral ribs 116 (Figs:-2 to 4) at each end of the outer rib114, with the nose 112 of each of the spring clamping levers adapted toengage the door flange 98 within the confines of integral door ribs 114and 116.

The door 96 may also be removably hinged to the reflector 4, by a hingearrangement illustratively shown in the preferred embodiment of theinvention as being located at the top of the lighting xture. The hingecomprises an angular hinge bracket 118 having one portion secured to theupper side of the reflector 7, as by rivets 120, and having its outerend angularly bent over the recessed shoulder 92 of the reflector, andthen bent outwardly and reduced in Width, to form a hinge tongue portion122. If desired, the outer edge of the hinge portion 122 may be notched,as illustrated in Fig. 2, to provide a sight by means of which thelighting fixture may be aimed and adjusted about its pivotal mountingstuds 16. The door 96 is provided with a hinge clip 124 formed of aresilient material, such as stainless steel strip, which is bent backupon itself at the outer end and riveted together as at 125, whereuponthe ends of the strip are separated to form one leg 128 for engaging theinner side of the adjacent edge of the door 96, and another leg 126formed to engage the outer surface at the outer edge of door 96.Preferably, a compressible sheet material 130, such as rubber or thelike, is interposed between the material of door 96 and the hinge clip124 to prevent damage to the transparent material of the door, andintegral ribs 114 and 116 are formed on the Vdoor at a position toreceive the hinge clip 124, with the outer leg 126' of the clip beingbent at 132 to conform to the shape of rib 114 and thus preventwithdrawal of the hinge clip. Also, in order that thel inner leg 128 ofthe door hinge clip does not project outwardly of the inner surface ofthe door, and particularly the door flange 98, the latter is preferablygrooved as at 133 (Fig. 4) for receiving the inner leg 128 of the hingeclip, so that it will lie flush with the inner surface of the doorflange 98. The outer end of the door hinge clip 124 is angularly bentand has a pivot opening 136 for receiving the hinge tongue 122 0f thehinge bracket 118.

It will now be apparent that upon release of the clamps comprisinglevers 104, 110, which secure the door 6 to the reflector assembly 4,the door will still be supported from the reflector assembly 6 by thehinge bracket 118 and hinge clip 124, and the door may be openedV bypivotal movement about the point of engagement of hinge bracket 118 andhinge clip 124, for replacement of the lamp 46, or for the purpose ofcleaning. Of course, if it is desired to replace the door 6 or to removeit entirely, it may be easily lifted upwardly to 'clear the hinge tongueportion 122 of hinge bracket 118, and be entirely removed from thelighting fixture. It may be reassembled with the reflector assembly, ora new door assembled very easily by simply dropping the hinge clip 124over the hinge portion 122 of bracket 118, and securing the springclamps comprising levers 104, in the position shown in Fig. 1, wherethey maintain the gasket 99 between the door 6 and reflector 7 underpressure engagement.

If desired, a flexible chain 138 or the like may be provided joining theparts of the lighting fixture which are releasably connected together,for the purpose of preventing accidental removal of the parts when theyhave been released from clamping engagement. While such a captive chain138 is illustrated on the drawing only in connection with the door 6 andreflector assembly 4, a similar chain could be provided connecting thereflector assembly 4 and the socket housing 8 in a similar way. Ofcourse whenv it is desired to entirelyfremove the parts of the lightingfixture, the captive means, such as chain 138, may be simply unhooked bymeans of its spring clasp 139, from one of the parts it engages, and inthe illustrative embodiment the chain 138 may be unhooked from theaperture in the upper end 134 of the hinge clip 124 in which it engages,the other end of the chain being secured to the reflector by one of therivets 120.

' It is believed apparent from the foregoing that this inventioncomprehends from one aspect, the provision of a weather-tight lightingfixture having a transparent cover which does not require a frame butwhich nevertheless may be removably secured to the reflector part of thefixture in a weather-tight manner to permit ready access to the interiorof the fixture for replacing the light source and for other servicingpurposes, such as cleaning.

This invention also comprehends a lighting fixture employing a reflectorwhich is removable from the socket mounting for the light source in asimple manner, and yet can be clamped in a Weather-tight fashion to thesocket housing, all for the purpose of permitting ready access to thefixture for cleaning it or replacing it entirely. Finally, it isapparent that the particular construction of lighting fixture comprisingthis invention facilitates installation because it is possible to mountthe lamp socket housing separately at the desired location, and the bodyportion of the fixture comprising the reflector and door, may be laterassembled after the installation of the socket housing and Wiringthereof are completed.

Having described a preferred embodiment of the invention, in accordancewith the patent statutes, it is desired to point out that this is merelyillustrative of the invention, and should not be considered as limitingthe invention to the specific details thereof. Thus, the frameless doorconstruction may be used in other types of lighting fixtures, the numberof spring clamps employed may be varied, the invention may be employedwith other light sources than the incandescent light specificallydisclosed herein, and many other changes and modifications of theessential features of the invention may be made without departing fromthe true spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is desiredthat the invention be interpreted as broadly as possible.

We claim as our invention:

1. A lighting fixture having only three parts releasai bly securedtogether in a weatherproof manner comprising, a hollow one-piecesupporting member having an opening, lamp holding means mounted in saidsupporting member for supporting a lamp with at least a portion thereofextending through and located outside of said opening in the supportingmember, means on said supporting member for mounting said supportingmember directly on a support, a reilector having an opening adjacent oneend adapted to be aligned with the opening in said supporting member, acompressible sealing gasket positioned between surfaces on saidsupporting member and retlector surrounding said openings, means forreleasably clamping said reiector to said supporting member with saidopenings in alignment and including a resilient part which is stressedwhen the reector and supporting member are clamped together to maintainsaid gasket under predetermined pressure, to maintain said gasket underpressure, said relector ilaring outwardly from said opening to arelatively large opening adjacent its opposite end through which lightis transmitted to the exterior, a door of transparent material for saidrelatively large opening, a second compressible sealing gasket adaptedto be positioned between surfaces on said reilector and door whichsurround the relatively large reilector opening, and means forreleasably clamping said door to said reflector in position where itcloses said relatively large opening and said second sealing gasket ismaintained under pressure and `including a resilient part which isstressed when the door and rellector are clamped together to maintainsaid second gasket under predetermined pressure, a pair of hinge meanseach of which comprises separable parts connecting said supportingmember to said reector and said reector to said door, respectively.

2. A lighting fixture comprising, a hollow one-piece supporting memberhaving an opening, lamp holding means mounted in said supporting memberfor supporting a lamp with at least a portion thereof extending throughand located outside of said opening in the supporting member, means onsaid supporting member for mounting said supporting member directly on asupport, a reflector having an opening adjacent one end adapted to bealigned with the opening in said supporting member, a compressiblegasket located between the supporting member and reilector adjacent theopenings therein, means for releasably clamping said reflector to saidsupporting member with said openings in alignment and including aresilient part which is stressed when the reflector and supportingmember are clamped together t0 maintain said gasket under predeterminedpressure, said reilector flaring outwardly from said opening to arelatively large opening adjacent its opposite end through which lightis transmitted to the exterior, a door of transparent material for saidrelatively large opening, a second compressible gasket located betweensurfaces on the reflector and door surrounding said relatively largeopening, means for releasably clamping said door to said rellector inposition where it closes said relatively large opening and including aresilient part which is stressed when the door and reilector are clampedtogether to maintain said second gasket under predetermined pressure,and a pair of hinge means at the same side of said xture and connectingsaid supporting member to said retlector and the rellector to said door,respectively.

3. A lighting xture comprising, a hollow body having means forsupporting a lamp therein and having an outwardly flaring reflectorportion terminating in an opening through which light is transmitted, aframeless door of one piece of transparent material for said opening,said retlector portion having a flange surrounding said opening, acompressible gasket adapted to seat on said flange, an integral rim onsaid door adapted to be disposed opposite said ange when the door isclosed, and a plurality of spaced resilient clamping means movablymounted on said reflector portion and releasably directly engageablewith said rim for securing said door to said reilector portion with saidrim directly engaging said gasket under pressure, a plurality ofgenerally U- shaped projections on the outer side of said door with thebight portion of each projection located adjacent the outer edge of thedoor and the arms thereof extending inwardly of the door, and saidprojections being spaced to receive said clamping means, respectively.

4. A lighting fixture comprising, a hollow body having means forsupporting a lamp therein and having an outwardly flaring reflectorportion terminating in an opening through which light is transmitted, adoor of transparent material for said opening, said reflector portionhaving a fixed flange surrounding said opening, a compressible gasketadapted to seat on said flange, an integral rim on said door adapted tobe disposed opposite said flange when the door is closed, a hinge forsaid door comprising one part secured to said reflector portion andanother part having a clamp having a form complemental to the form ofthe rim portion of said door to directly frictionally engage the latter,a recess formed in the inner surface of said rim portion to receive theinner' leg of said clamp flush with said inner surface, and releasablemeans for securing said door to said reector portion with said rimdirectly engaging said gasket under pressure.

5. A lighting iixture comprising, a hollow body having means forsupporting a lamp therein and having an outwardly flaring reflectorportion terminating in an opening through which light is transmitted, adoor of transparent material for said opening, said reflector portionhaving a fixed ilange surrounding said opening, a compressible gasketadapted to seat on said ange, an integral rim on said door adapted to bedisposed opposite said flange when the door is closed, a hinge for saiddoor comprising one part secured to said reflector portion and anotherpart having a generally U-shaped clamp having a form complemental to theform of the rim portion of said door to directly frictionally receivethe latter, a recess formed in the inner surface of said rim portion toreceive the inner leg of said clamp ush with said inner surface, andreleasable means for securing said door to said reilector portion withsaid rim directly engaging said gasket under pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS422,592 Holman Mar. 4, 1890 1,641,681 Kircher Sept. 6, 1927 1,960,854Sawin May 29, 1934 2,011,868 Michel Aug. 20, 1935 2,180,982 Foulds Nov.21, 1939 2,279,595 Phillips Apr. 14, 1942 2,327,820 Rogers Aug. 24, 1943

